Method of and apparatus for treating surfaces



July 27, 1943. Q WERTZ 2,325,087 y METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATIGSURFACES `Filed. Sept. l1, 1942 ATTORNEYS Patented July 27, 1943 METHODoF AND APPARATUS Fon 'mirarme sUaFAoEs Louis s. wem, cleveland Heights,ome Applicationseptember 1,1942, Serial No. 456,863

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating surfaces.It particularly relates to the treatment of porous surfaces, such asconcrete, masonry and similar materials, to4

cause densication of the surfaces and pores YVo1 the structure asubstantial distance inwardly from said surface.

When an aqueous cement slurry is impacted on a porous surface, such asthesurface of concrete,

there is a marked tendency for the solid cementitious ingredients toseparate from the water and form a layer of solids over the surfaces ofthe structure with only the water or-liquid penetratins` into the.surface of the structure. Upon hardening of the cement the added layer4almost invariably separates or peels oil from the structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a process andapparatus for the treatment of surfaces of porous concrete structuresand the like by which an aqueous cementitious slurry or a. waterproofingmaterial containing solid ingredients is forced into the pores andcrevices of the concrete structures rather than being disposed as alayer on the surface of the structuresgv It is another object of thepresent invention to provide a tool for the treatment of concrete andother surfaces which does not require great force on the part of theoperator to maintain the device in place or to cause penetration of theingredients into the structure.

Other objects will be apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 isan elevational view of apparatus em- 35 bodying the presentinvention and of a portion of concrete structure illustrating theapparatus in operating position against the surface of the structure;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus of 40 l December 18, 1939,new Patent 2,313,108, I dis- 45 closed a device for treating concretesurfaces and the like having a resilient, relatively at face with apassageway for waterproofing or treating material centrally thereof. Thefiat surface is placed in contact with the surfaces of the struc- 50ture and given hammerlike impacts which cause penetration of thecementitious slurry through thepassageway into the surfaces of thestructure.

vWlfile this device disclosed in my Iabove-mensult, when the flow' ofcementitious material is properly regulated with respect to the porosityof the structure .there is sometimes a tendency to provide too great aflow of material or inability .1 to reduce the amount of the flowsulciently.

When this occurathere is more tendency for the formation of a layer onthe surface of the structure which does not adhere well. In the presentinvention this difficulty vis overcome by making l0 the sealing pressureor contact pressure against the surface -of the structure a function of.the

pressure on the. treating .material flowing to the surface of thestructure.

In addition to the steps of presenting-a member l5 having a depressiblecontact face to the surface of the structure, feeding a solidifying andweatherproong material through the face to the surface of the structure,and .imparting a multiplicity of forcible or hammerlike impacts tothe 20member in contact with the surface of the structure, as Iset forth in myabove-mentionedapplication, the process of the present inventioninvolves automatically controlling the feed of the treating material tothe surface `of the structure, so

' 25 that if there are portions of the surface having greater porosity,the feed will also tend to increase. 'I'here is, therefore, lesstendency for the accumulation of too large an amount of cementitiousslurry between the depressible face of the 3,0 apparatus and thestructure. Consequently, there is less tendency for separation of thesolid ingredients from the liquid.

` The regulation and flow of the readily owable, liquid-like treatingmaterial f is accomplished herein by transmitting` a multiplicity ofhammerlike or forcible impacts substantially ,entirely through thematerial to the depressible contact face cf the tool. 'Ihe material iscaused by the same impacts to flow through a passageway through thevdepressible face into contact with the surface of the structure. I Thetransmission of the forces through'the treating material may be effectedby impacting a movable plunger or liexible wall of a chamber of variablevolume containing the material in contact with the wall and passagewayconnecting the chamber with the outer contacting surface of the,depressible portion of the tool. By transmitting the hammerlike pressureto the contact face through the flowable repair material, the pressureoverthe contact face is proportional to or identical with the pressureon the flowable material, so that there. is/ less tendency'fon sidewiseflow of the tioned application produces a very desirable re- 55waterproofing material and there is a greater tendency for migrationinto the surface of the structure.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, in which like parts areindicated by like numerals of reference throughout the several views,the apparatus of the present invention may comprise two spaced wallsconnected by peripheral portions to define a chamber. One wall which maybe the body I carries a resilientl member 2 with a depressiblecontactface 3 that is adapted to bear against the surface of the porousstructure or other surface to be treated. The other of said spaced wallswhich may be a plunger or diaphragm 5, is generally movable relative tosaid body I so that the chamber 6 is of variable volume. The volume ofthe cavity or chamber 6 depends on the relative position of thediaphragm or movable wall 5 with respect to the upper surface 4 of thebody. Sealing means, such as gaskets l, which are positioned around theperiphery of the diaphragm 5 and which cooperate with a clamping ring 8,that is suitably attachedor bolted to the body I, are provided to effecta fluid seal between the body I and the diaphragm 5, so thatwaterproofing or flowable cementitious material does not leak from thecavity 6 along the side edges thereof.

A pressure impact transmitter I is suitably attached to the movable wallmember shown as diaphragm and serves as means for transmitthe uppersurface 4 of the body member I in spaced relation. The spring II causesthe cavity a 6 to tend to return to original volume after each impact.

A supply passageway I3 is provided for ingress of the treating orwaterproofing composition from a pipe I4 to the cavity or chamber 6. Thepassage I3 is preferably disposed within the pressure member I0 so thatits exit port 2I to the chamber is disposed within the central opening22 of the diaphragm or plunger 5. The pipe I4 is connected through asuitable shut-off valve I5 and hose I6 to a suitable supply of treatingmaterial (not shown). Check means such as a check valve with a ball I'I,which is normally held against a seat I8 by a spring I9, is provided forpreventing reverse flow of the treating composition from the chamber 6through the passage I3 when the pressure within the chamber 6 is greaterthan the pressure within the pipe I 4. Means such as an annularadjusting nut which bears against a spring I9 is provided for varyingthe pressure of the ball I'I against the seat I8. A passageway 23 isprovided for flow of the treating composition from the chamber 6 to thecontact face 3 of the resilient element 2. The cross sectional area ofthe passageway 23 is preferably relatively small compared to the area ofthe contact face 3, and the cross sectional area of the chamber parallelto said face.

The diameter of the passageway 23 may be varied substantially withoutchanging the operation of the device. It is preferred, however, to havethe cross sectional opening of the passageway 23 sufficiently small sothat the cavity 6 will not tend to empty when the surface 3 is removedfrom the structure.

In the operation of the device the treating material, which is suppliedto the hose I6 under sufficient head to cause normal ow, passes throughthe pipe I4 and the intake passageway I3, displaces the ball II from itsseat I8 of the check valve, and enters the chamber 6 in suflicientamount to fill the same, The device is placed against the surface 3| ofthe structure 30 which it is desired to densify so that the iiat contactface 3 bears against the surface 3|. A multiplicity of impacts is thenapplied to the shank 25 of the device by operation of the hammer A. Theimpacts which are transmitted through the pressure member I0 tothe'diaphragm piston or plunger 5 cause substantial periodic movementsof the diaphragm against the force of the spring I I. Periodic movementof the diaphragm 5 causes substantial periodic increases and decreasesin pressure in the waterproofing material within the cavity 6.

The variations in pressure function to cause the treating material toflow intermittently through the passageway 23 in contact with thesurface 3| of the structure. Increases in pressure onthe material within.the chamber 6, in accordance with Pascals law causes increased forceover each unit of the surface 4 and therefore increased pressureproportionately between the surface 3 of the tool and the outer surface3| of the structure, with the result that a movement of the body `Itakes place and the resilient portion 2 is accordingly compressed.

It will be seen that an increase in pressure on the material within thechamber 6 causes 'an increase in pressure on the surface 3 in the sametime that it causes an increase in pressure on the material within thepassageway 23. This maintains sealing pressure proportional to uidpressure and permits a more effective seal around the passageway 23 withthe result that the ow through the passageway 23 is determined to alarge measure by the character of the surface of the porous structure.After each impact on the shank 25, the pressure member and diaphragm 5is moved upwardly by the spring II so that pressure on the materialwithin the cham ber 6 is reduced below normal, and a small addi tionalamount of waterproong material is permitted to flow through thepassageway and check valve into the chamber 6. The multiplicity ofimpacts on the film of treating material subjects the film to momentaryhigh pressures which force the treating material into the voids orpores. Continuation of the impacting forces liquid of the treatingmaterial further into the material adjacent the surface, leaving thevoids nearer the surface filled with solids and substantially inert ornon-volatile materials. By moving the apparatus over the entire surfacewhile maintaining the feed of treating material and continuing theimpacting, the voids and porosities of the surface may be filled and thesurface rendered impervious and weather resistant to a high degree.

The treating material used may be varied depending on the nature of thesurface and the conditions to which it is to be exposed. For example, inthe treatment of concrete surfaces on concrete structures -such aswalls, bridges, dams, etc., it is often desirable to use a materialhaving some strength in itself. An example of "such a material comprisesPortland cement; a

ller, which may have hydraulic properties in itself and preferablycontains acidic colloidal silica, to retard the gelation of the cement.Ex-

iiowed onto the surface so that the drying time of the material will bea minimum. Such a material as described above is very advantageousbecause the particles of the dry ingredients are j held in a stablesuspension so that they may be forced through hose lines withoutseparation and high frictional losses and will penetrate into smallvoids and interstices. Further, the hydration of the cement is delayeduntil the material has been impacted into the surface and a considerablevamount of the Water has been forced out Thus the Water-to-cement ratiois low and the strength of the treating material when set is relativelygreat.

Where strength of the treating material is not required and relativelyhigh water repellent characteristics are desired, a composition whichhas been found very advantageous comprises a binding material such as apitch or bitumen, together with a drying oil, preferably one which isdiicultly saponiable; an inert filler including pulverized clays,fullers earth, pulverized limestone, and the like; and a compatiblethinner such as turpentine, heavy benzine, mineral spirits, etc. ofrendering the treated surface highly repellent to water and thus is veryadvantageous in treating surfaces to prevent water gaining access to theinterior of a structure where it may cause disintegration.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the steps ofthe process and the specic device herein shown and described forpurposes of illustration may be made Without departing from the spiritof the invention.

What I claim is:

1. The method of treating concrete and masonry structures and the liketo densify them in the region of their surfaces, Which comprisespresenting a member having aresilient depressible face against thesurface of the structure, feeding a highly flowable material containingPortland cement, through said face into contactv with the surface ofsaid structure, repeatedly and suddenly impacting said flowable materialto 'cause periodic ,variations of pressure therein, and

transmitting said impacts substantially entirely through said owablematerial to said resilient depressible face of said member and to thesurface of the structure being treated, whereby the pressure of saidresilient depressible face against said structure varies as a functionof the instantaneous pressure of said flowable material.

2. The method of treating porous structures to densify them in theregion of their surfaces, which comprises presenting a member having asubstantially flat, resilient, deformable face against the surface of astructure, disposing a readily flowable treating material in a cavity ofvariable volume, periodically impacting the material in the chamber tocause variations in pressure therein, feeding the material from saidThis composition has the property chamber to said deformable face, andtransmitting pressures through the contents of said chamber to causeimpaction of Said resilient deformable face against the surface of thestructure, whereby the pressure of said face against said wall is afunction of pressure on the readily flowable material contained Withinthe chamber and being supplied to said face.

3. The method of treating porous structures to densify them in theregion of their surfaces, which comprises presenting a member having asubstantially flat, resilient, deformable face against the surface of astructure, disposing a readily owable treating materia1 in a cavity ofvariable volume with opposing walls movable relative to each other,feeding the material from the chamber to said deformable face, andsubjecting one of said movable walls to a multiplicity of hammerlikeimpacts to cause variation in the flow of the treating material to thesurface of said structure and to cause simultaneous variations inpressure of said deformable face against the surface of the structurebeing treated, whereby the pressure of said deformable face against saidsurface is a function of the pressure on said flowablematerial beingsupplied from said chamber.

4. The method of treating porous structures to densify them in theregion of their surfaces, which comprises presenting a member having asubstantially flat, resilient, deformable face against the surface of astructure, disposing a readily fiowable treating composition consistingof a nely divided hydraulic cement, water, a. finely divided fillercontaining a substantial amount of acidic colloidal silica to retardgelation of the cement, and a lubricating agent, which consists in partof a fatty acidv derivative, in a cavity of variable volume,periodically impacting the material in the chamber to cause variationsin pressure therein, feeding the material y\from said chamber to saiddeformable face, and transmitting pressures through the contents of saidchamber to cause impaction of said resilient deformable face against thesurface of the structure, whereby the pressure of said face against saidWall is a function of pressure on the readily flowable materialcontained within the chamber and being supplied to said face.

5. The method of treating porous-structures to densify them in theregion oftheir surfaces,

which comprises presenting a member having `a substantially fiat,resilient, deformable face against the surface of a structure, disposinga readily owable treating composition consisting of Portland cement, afinely divided filler, a lubricating agent and water in a cavity ofvariable Volume, periodically impacting the material in the chamber tocause variations in pressure therein, feeding the material from saidchamber to said deformable face, and transmitting pressures through thecontents of said chamber to cause impaction of said resilient deformableface against the surface of the structure, whereby the pressure of saidface against said wall is a function of pressure on the readily owablematerial contained within the chamber and being supplied to said face.

6. A device for treating the surfaces of masonry and concrete structuresand the like, which comprises two spaced walls connected by peripheralportions to dene a chamber, one wall being movable relative to theother, a relatively flat, resilient face carried by one of said walls,impact transmitting means carried by the other of said walls, apassageway through said 4resilient face and its supporting `wall for thepassage of fluid from said chamber, means for supplying a readily owabletreating material to said chamber, and means for suddenly and eralportions to deiine a chamber of variable volume, said diaphragm beingmovable relative to said body portion, said body portion carrying arelatively flat, resilient member with a depressible contact face to beplaced against the surface to be treated, a passageway through said bodyportion and said face to said chamber for the passage ofuid from saidchamber, means for supplying readily owable treating fluid to saidchamber, and means for suddenly and periodically applying pressures tosaid diaphragm to periodically increase and decrease the pressures onthe treating material in said chamber and to transmit through saidtreating mate* rial similar periodic forces over said resilient facewhen said face is disposed against `the surface to be treated.

8. A device for treating concrete and masonry structures and tnev liketo densify them in the region of their surfaces, which comprises a bodyportion and a diaphragm connected by peripheral portions to define achamber of variable volume, said diaphragm being movable relative tosaid body portion and carrying an impact transmitter, said body portioncarrying a relatively ilat, resilient member with a depressible contactface to be placed against the surface to `be treated, a passagewaythrough said body portion and `said face to said chamber for the passageof fluid from said chamber, a fluidvsupply conduit to supply readilyilowable treating material to said chamber, check valve means associatedwith said iluid supply conduit to prevent ilow of fluid material fromsaid chamber through said fluid supply conduit, and means for suddenlyand periodically applying pressures to said impact transmitter toperiodically increase and decrease the pressures on the treatingmaterial in said chamber and to transmit through said treating materialsimilar periodic forces over said resilient 'face when said face isdisposed against the surface to be treated.

9. A device for treating concrete and masonry structures and the like todensify them in the region of their surfaces, which comprises a bodyportion, a diaphragm connected by peripheral portions to define achamber of variable volume, and resilient means for maintaining thediaphragm and the body portion in spaced relation, said diaphragm beingmovable relative-to said body portion, said body portion carryingarelatively iiat,'resilient member with a depressible contact face to beplaced against the surface to be treated, a passageway through said bodyportion and said face to said chamber for the passage of uid from saidchamber, means for supplying readily fiowable treating iluidto saidchamber, and means for suddenly and periodically applying pressures tosaid diaphragm to periodically increase and decrease the pressures onthe treating material insald chamber and to transmit through saidtreating material similar periodic forces over said resilient face whensaid face is disposed against the surface to be treated.

10. A device for treating the surfaces of masonry and concretestructures-and the like, which comprises two spaced walls connected by`peripheral portions to .define a chamber, one

wall being movable relative to the other, resilient means formaintaining said walls in spaced relation,.a relatively flat, resilientface carried by one of said walls, impact transmitting means carried bythe other of said walls, a passageway through said resilient face andits supporting wall for the passage of iiuid from said chamber, meansfor supplying a readily ilowable treating material .to said chamber, andmeans for suddenly and periodically applying pressures to saidtransmitting means to periodically increase and decrease the pressure onthe treating material in said chamber and to ,transmit through saidmaterial similar periodic forces over said resilient face when 4saidface is disposed against the surface to be treated.

11. A device for treating the surfaces of masonry and concretestructures and the like,

which comprises two spaced walls connected by peripheral portions todefine a chamber, one wall being movable relative to the other, arelatively ilat, resilient face carried by one of said walls, impacttransmitting means carried by the other of. said walls, a passagewaythrough said resilient face and its supporting wall for the passage offluid from said chamber, a fluid supply passageway carried by saidimpact transmitting means for supplying a readily iiowable treatingmaterial to said chamber, check valve means in said passageway forpreventing flow of fluid from said chamber,l and means for suddenly andperiodically applying pressures to said transmitting means toperiodically increase and decrease`

